The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-03-11
A HISTORIC SWORD.

A HISTORIC SWORD.
Tke Weapon Welded BY Captain Reid q
the ''Thermopyle q TIE Ocean"
The presentation to Congress, through
the President, by Colonel Samuel C.
Reid, of the battle saber of his father,
the late Captain Samuel Chester Reid.
who commanded the United States pri-
vate-armed brig-of-war General Arm
strong at the battle Fayal in Scptem-
Der. 1914, is excuse enough for reviving
some incidents which have passed out
Of mind. The Armstrong was little
brig Of but 240 tons, carrying but z
guns and 80 men. She was at
tackled in the neutral waters Of the
Azore Islands by a British squadron.
consisting of the-ship-of-the-line Plan
tagenet. the frigate Reta, and tho
slOop-of-war Carnation. with q total
amount of 136 guns and 1000 men.
The British lost over 800 of their
picked men and officers in killed and
wounded, while the Armstrong lost but
2 killed and Z wounded. The action
has well been called the "Thermopyl1
of the Ocean," for no naval battle in
ancient or modern history is compara-
BILE with that of the Armstrong at
Fayal. either as to the unequal forces
engaged, the unyielding and infexible
bravery of her officers and crew, nor as
to the grand results which followed in
the defeat of the British expedition
against Louisiana.
The height of heroism and romantic
chivalry were displayed by Captain
Reid and his crew in the last act Of this
extraordinary naval drama. After
scuttling his vessel to save her from
capture he went ashore with his men
and arms, when the commander Of the
squadron. Admiral Lloyd. demanded
their surrender and threatened to send
five hundred men to take them. Reid
retired with his men to an old Gothic
convent, which he fortified, knocked
away the draw-bridge, ran up the
American flag. and babe the enemy de-
fiance. Lloyd quailed under the last
exhibition Of heroic courage, saying
they were demons and not men.
The squadron under Lloyd was on
its way to the Island of jamaica to
join the great fleet assembling there
under Admiral Lord COchrane, after
ward Earl of Dundonald, who was con-
fidentialy intrusted with the secret ex-
petition for the conquest of Louisiana.
The last hope of England to wrest the
control of the Mississippi; river and the
province of Louisiana from France had
been foiled by Napoleon, who. seeing
that he had 40 means of protect
ing it from the conquest Of
England. ceded it to the United
States in 1903. On the declaration Of
war by the United States. in 1872, Eng
lands eyes were once more turned to
the coveted possession, and. after MAX
ing demonstration against Washing
ton and Baltimore. she assembled her
fleets, no longer needed for
the blockade of the French coasts at
Negril Bay, Jamaica, to carry out this
great design. The crippled condition
Of Lloyd's squadron had created de-
lay of over ten days in repairing dam
ages, as they were occupied over three
lays alone in burying their dead. On
The arrival of Lloyd at Jamaica a fus-
Their delay of \ week took place. Adj
miral Lord Coclrane being furious at
Lloyd's disaster. which finally proved
fatal to the expedition. The fleet did
not arrive off Lake Boevue until four
days after the arrival Of Gener-
al jackson with his forces. which
barely gave him time to make de-
tense, that had the fleet arrived ten
DAYS sooner, when New Orleans and
the coast was utterly defcnseless. an
easy conquest would have been made.
and once in possession it is doubtful if
The treaty Of peace would have been
ratified by England. Thus it is clearly
demonstrated that if Captain Reid had
his vessel against such an
force, which he might
have done without the imputation of
Louisiana might to-day be
under the flag of st. George.
To Captain Reid is not only due the
credit of this victory, but its general
-esults in saving domain now more
han three times larger than the terri
tory of France, and it is worthy to be
that this gallant sailor be-
came afterward the designer of the
present form of the United States Gag,
Is adopted by Congress in 1918. His
name and fame deserve to be COM
and Congress should show
Inc gratitude Of the people BY making
IN appropriation for substantial and
testimonial to his bravery
md usefulncss.-COr. N. y Tines.